The National tribune., 1887-09-01
A RIGHT TO VOTE.

Past Department Commanders should Re Entitled
To Seats in the National Encampment.
EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: Much mas
been said and written in regard to Past De-
par ment Commanders having a vote in Ma
ti0nal Encampmcnts. As a member of that
supposed danger body of favored individu-
ais L ask a short space in your influential
paper to say word in their defense believing
you would not willingly wrong them. do nos
say this IN my own behalf being entirely will
ing to trust my case with my own Depart
ment, feeling sure that they are willing to
trust any fealty To the old soldiers. either in
State or National EncampmenJ: but / do desire
To say word IN defense of some of the able,
patriotic, and sincere men / have had the
pleasure to meet and become acquainted with
IN my attendance at these National Encamp-
ments in the past.
AS the representatives to the National En-
campments receive pay, but are so far as
the State of Kansas is concerned and all 9TH
ers that know OF, compelled to pay their own
fare and expenses or stay away. I fail to see
who is wr0nged or what harm can possibly be
done by allowing them seats i'm the EncamD-
ments when they bear their own expenses,
Are these men, usually selected for some merit
they possess, any less worthy, deserving COM
rades, when acting in the National Encamp-
ments than when they We're hOnoTed by their
respective Departments when they were
elected to preside over their States? They
must have been thought we'll Of been trusted
and believed in. else they never would have
risen to the honorable position OF Department.
Commander. Ii they were worthy OF conf
dence then, is it not more than probable that
with their added experience. their larger
knowledge of the wants and the needs Of
the old soldiers of the country they are as
worthy now, aud with their Increased wisdom
not only as willing. but more capable Of
taking part in the deliberations of the National
EncampmentS than any other equally good
men, but with less experience2
If their presence cut down the representa-
ton of tie State. then l should say, unhesi-
tatingly, cut them off; but as il does not lessen
the States representation, but only addls to it
without in any way increasing the expense, K
can see no good reason for depriving them of a
vote. Would you elevate man to the resspOn-
sioe position of Department Commander and
then, without his doing anything to show that
he was not worthy the honor conferred, Imme-
diately afterward show your distrust of him
by openly charging him with dishonest pur-
poses in the National Encampment? Is this
course consistent? Do you elevate a man sim
ply TO degrade him afterward Comrades. this
Is a pretty narrow platform TO stand ON. Do not
distrust a cOmrade until You have some cause.
That few Fast Department. Commanders
have, to put it mildly. been indiscreet / will
not deny, but that any considerable number OF
with National reputation. whs have filed
the position of Department Commander, and
whose presence is an honor to any assembly,
have or ever will prove recreant to their trust,
or Will IN any manner prove dislOyal 10 the
best interests OF the old soldiers of this eOun-
try, most emphatieally deny. and the very
insinuatiOn is insult TO these men. If
know myself. feel that the balance OF nv life
spent in doing what can 10 benefit the COM
rades of my Department will bu5 poorly repay
them for what they have done for me.
Who is there bold enough to charge that the
peerless Logan, eushrined rs he is in the MEM
Org of all OF Us as the foremost type of the citi
| Zen-S0ldier, was not as much the soldier q
friend, aud for whom he labOred just as 10y
ally. just as enthusiastically Just as fearessly
after he had filed the highest positions in the
Grand Army as before2 Many others arc Just
as sincere, just loyal. and Just as true to the
| ntere Is of the rank and file as was Gen.
Logan Onlyinferior, because net occupying the
! position that he did they are less able to do,
but their Gesire to do is just great was
his.-C. j. MCDIvrTT Past Department. COM
mander, Department of Kansas, GAR, Abb
| lene, Kan.